Co-branded Internet service provider and retailer Internet service site with retailer-offered incentives for member use

ABSTRACT

A system and method for a retailer to sell merchandise over the Internet in affiliation with an Internet service provider. The co-branded Internet site is accessible through the Internet service site of the Internet service provider. The co-branded Internet site includes designations of both the retailer and the Internet service provider. The co-branded Internet site including one or more links to the Internet shopping site of the retailer. Client software for accessing the co-branded Internet site is distributed at retailer locations. Members of the co-branded Internet site are provided with incentives to access and shop on the Internet shopping site of the retailer through the co-branded Internet site.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/952,429, filed Dec. 7, 2007, and issued on Jan. 3, 2012 as U.S. Pat.No. 8,090,629, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/865,893, filed May 25, 2001, and issued on Dec. 11, 2007 as U.S.Pat. No. 7,308,420, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/206,917, tiled May 25, 2000. All of the above-citedapplications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to on-line (e.g., Internet)shopping. In particular, the present invention is a method andassociated Internet service site for an on-line retailer to provideshopping services in affiliation with an Internet service provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On-line (e.g., Internet) advertising, shopping and brand promotioncontinues to grow in popularity. Retailers and Internet serviceproviders have recently joined forces to promote and expand theirexisting businesses, to promote and extend their brands, to develop andpromote new synergistic strategies and businesses, and to expand intonew markets and channels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system by which anInternet Service Provider (“ISP”) and retailer, such as a serviceprovider, grocery store, mass merchandiser or super store (“Retailer”)provide a co-branded, subscriber-based Internet service site throughwhich the subscribers can access the retailer's Internet shopping siteand incentives for members to shop at the retailers web site. Thepresent co-branded Internet site is the ISP's premium site or acustomized version thereof that is accessed through a special additionrequesting program or “client”. The Internet service provider willincrease subscribers by leveraging retailer's customer relationships.Retailer will build brand awareness, drive traffic to retailer's storesand to retailer's web site. Other related products and methods are alsodisclosed and provide additional advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example of a co-branded home page forthe co-branded Internet site in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2. is an illustration of an example of a co-branded cover page ofan on-line periodical that can be accessed from the co-branded Internetsite.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example of a co-branded opt-in pop-uppage that can be accessed from the co-branded. Internet site.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of examples of ISP shopping destinationsuggestion pages with premier merchant locations that can be provided tothe retailer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of examples of ISP shopping registrysuggestion pages with premier merchant locations that can be provided tothe retailer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a co-branded CD containing the “client” softwareand associated package for Internet service software in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of an alternate co-branded CD containing the“client” software and associated package for Internet service softwarein accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is based generally upon a membership and/orloyalty program offered jointly by the ISP and a retailer. Inparticular, the invention is a method and system by which the ISP andretailer provide a co-branded, subscriber-based Internet service sitethrough which the subscribers can access the retailer's Internetshopping site. A variety of financial and/or other incentives areprovided to the subscribers to encourage them to access the retailer'sshopping site through the co-branded Internet services and to becomesubscribers to the ISP's premium Internet site.

The following terms and acronyms are used throughout the detaileddescription:

“Client-server” refers to a model of interaction in a distributed systemin which a program at one site sends a request to a program at anothersite and waits for a response. The requesting software program is calledthe “client,” and the program that responds to the request is called the“server.” In the context of the World Wide Web (discussed below), theclient is a “Web browser” (or simply “browser”) which runs on a computerof a user; the program which responds to browser requests by serving Webpages is commonly referred to as a “Web server.”

“Co-branded Internet site” refers to an Internet or Web site that is theISP's premium site or a customized version thereof that is accessedthrough a special addition requesting software program or “client”.

“Hyperlink” refers to a navigational link from one document to another,or from one portion (or component) of a document to another. Typically,a hyperlink is displayed as a highlighted word or phrase that can beselected by clicking on it using a mouse to jump to the associateddocument or documented portion.

“Internet” refers to a collection of interconnected (public and/orprivate) networks that are linked together by a set of standardprotocols (such as TCP/IP and HTTP) to form a global, distributednetwork. (While this term is intended to refer to what is now commonlyknown as the Internet, it is also intended to encompass variations whichmay be made in the future, including changes and additions to existingstandard protocols.)

“ISP” or “Internet Service Provider” refers to a company that providesindividuals and other companies access to the Internet and other relatedservices such as Web site building and virtual hosting. An ISP has theequipment and the telecommunication line required to have an accesspoint to the Internet for the geographic area served.

“ISP's Premium Site” refers to an Internet or Web site (such as forexample America Online or CompuServe) that is available to subscribersof the ISP using the ISP's conventional “client” software.

Members refers to subscribers of the co-branded. Internet site.

“Merchandise” refers to goods and/or services offered for resale by theretailer.

“World wide web” or “web” refer generally to both (i) a distributedcollection of interlinked, user-viewable hypertext documents (commonlyreferred to as Web documents or Web pages) that are accessible via theInternet, and (ii) the client and server software components whichprovide user access to such documents using standardized Internetprotocols. Currently, the primary standard protocol for allowingapplications to locate and acquire Web documents is HTTP, and the Webpages are encoded using HTML. However, the terms “Web” and “World WideWeb” are intended to encompass future markup languages and transportprotocols which may be used in place of (or in addition to) HTML andHTTP.

“Web site” or “web page” refers to a computer system that servesinformational content over a network using the standard protocols of theWorld Wide Web. Typically, a web site corresponds to a particularInternet domain name, such as “target.com,” and includes the contentassociated with a particular organization. As used herein, the term isgenerally intended to encompass both (i) the hardware/software servercomponents that serve the informational content over the network, and(ii) the “back end” hardware/software components, including anynon-standard or specialized components, that interact with the servercomponents to perform services for web site users.

The present co-branded Internet site increases the number of subscribersto the ISP's services. The relationship of the ISP with the retailerdifferentiates the ISP's Internet services from other Internet serviceproducts offered by the ISP or by any other ISP. The ISP's Internetservice are also promoted within the retailer's demographic group, usingthe retailer's stores, signage, advertisements, web sites, and so on topromote the co-branded Internet site. At the same time, “membership” inthe co-branded Internet site builds loyalty and a psychologicalconnection between the customer-members and the retailer.

The co-branded Internet site increases on-line, store-based, and catalogsales of the retailer's merchandise, products and services. Awareness ofthe retailer's brand(s) and programs designed to promote the retailer'sbrand(s), such as community activities, charitable giving, sponsorships,are also increased. The co-branded Internet site also extends theretailer's brands to new businesses, particularly on-line businesses.

In one embodiment, the co-branded Internet site has all of the benefits,features and functionality associated with the ISP's premium site.Alternatively, the co-branded Internet services can be a subset orcustomized version of the ISP's premium site.

The co-branded Internet site and supporting materials can be co-brandedwith the names and logos of the ISP and the retailer. The co-brandingelements can appear wherever branding elements traditionally appear. Forexample, the CD storage device on which the “client” software foraccessing the co-branded Internet site is distributed and all relatedpackaging can be co-branded (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6). Alladvertisements, marketing materials, and promotions for the co-brandedInternet services can be co-branded. The ISP's premium site can also beco-branded.

In one embodiment, the co-branded Internet site, as viewed online by themember, is designed to have a unique “look and feel” that distinguishesit from any other service offered by the same ISP or any other ISP. TheISP's and the retailer's designations, such as tradenames, colors andlogos, are typically displayed on every page, and the “look and feel” ofthe home page and recurring features of the site, e.g., the tool bar,can combine the look and feel of the ISP's premium site and the look andfeel associated with the retailer and/or the retailer's web site. Forexample, if the ISP's premium site has a multicolored “rainbow” look andfeel and the retailer's logo and trade dress are typically red andwhite, the home page and tool bar of the co-branded Internet site can bepredominantly red and white, while retaining the icons and layoutassociated with the ISP's premium site.

A direct link to the retailer's web site(s) (preferably using theretailer's logo as an icon) can be prominently featured on the tool barof the co-branded Internet site. The tool bar will frame every page onthe co-branded Internet site. Thus, the customer will never be more thanone click away from the retailer's web site(s). The retailer's website(s) can be “cached” and framed by the co-branded Internet site sothat members need not leave the co-branded Internet site. A direct linkto the retailer's web site can be prominently featured on the drop-downmenu behind the “Favorites” icon on the tool bar of the co-branded ISPsite.

Members who subscribe to the co-branded Internet site will receivebenefits not available to members of other Internet services. Forexample, members can automatically receive a discount (e.g., 10%) off ofpurchases made from the retailer's web site(s) when accessed through theco-branded Internet site. Various systems and methods for offeringshopping incentives to customers through a computer network aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,634 (Scroggie et al.); U.S. Pat. No.5,970,469 (Scroggie et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,870 (Storey).

The discount can also be granted for a specified limited period of timefollowing the initial subscription to the co-branded Internet site.Also, the rate of discount and the period of time over which thediscount is available can vary on the basis of the member's commitmentto the ISP. For example, the level of discount for retailer's productsmay be related to the duration that the member subscribes to theco-branded Internet site services.

The co-branded Internet site can also provide members with early on-lineaccess to the retailer's weekly advertising circular, giving themadvance notice of sales and other promotions. Members can receiveadvance notice of the retailer's store-based clearance activity andpromotional events. Members can also receive enhanced subscriber supportservices including industry leading connectivity and access rates anddedicated telephone support. Some or all member benefits can be tied tothe volume of purchases made by the member from the retailer's web site.In another embodiment, the member incentives includes providing themembers with a discount on subscription fees for access to theco-branded Internet site based upon a quantity of merchandise purchasedfrom the retailer.

The ISP and the retailer can jointly create a mini-web site within theISP site (referred to as a “Retailer Channel”). In another embodiment,subscribers of ISP's premium site may be provided limited, temporary orfull access to the co-branded Internet site.

The link to the retailer channel can be prominently placed as apermanent feature on the home page of the co-branded Internet site, as achannel bar, an icon or some other form of link. When the member clickson the channel bar, the member will be linked to the web page of theretailer channel.

The retailer channel can provide content of interest to the retailer'sdemographic group, presented with the retailer's look and feel and inthe retailer's voice. Some of the retailer channel content can be uniqueto and created specifically for the retailer channel. Much of thecontent can be content already located elsewhere on the ISP premium siteor on the retailer's web site(s). This “borrowed” content can be wrappedon the retailer channel so that members who fit within the retailer'sdemographic will not have to browse the entire co-branded Internet siteto find content of interest to them.

For example, if the ISP offers a news “channel,” news stories ofinterest to the retailer's demographic group will be featured onappropriate pages of the retailer channel using hyperlink and framingtechnology. Content can be “pulled” from different sites to createcontent clusters. For example, a page covering child safety mightinclude a link to a news article describing the results of safety testson infant car seats (taken from the ISP's news channel), a link toinstructions on properly installing an infant car seat located on theretailer's web site, and a link to the page on the retailer's on-lineretail site on which infant car seats can be purchased. The retailer'sbridal registry service can be “wrapped” on a channel page featuringarticles of interest to couples planning their weddings. From the bridalregistry pages, the member would be able to access the retailer'son-line store and purchase and send a wedding gift.

The retailer channel can also provide, promote and/or support servicesand products offered by the retailer, its affiliates and its businesspartners. For example, members will be able to apply for the retailer'sproprietary credit card within the retailer channel. If the retaileroperates a pharmacy as part of its store, members will be able to fillor renew prescriptions or e-mail a pharmacist using the retailerchannel. If the retailer offers film development services within itsstores, the retailer channel will have features that permit members tohave their photographs delivered online or to have copies sent tomultiple store locations for pick-up by relatives in different states.

The retailer channel can have segment zones (mini-sites within thechannel) with content aimed at different segments, such as women, teens,children, cooks, gardeners, garners, etc. Similarly the retailer channelcan have seasonal zones (mini-sites within the channel) such asHalloween, back-to-school and holiday zones.

The splash or welcome page (the advertisement or other message thatappears when a member first accesses the co-branded Internet site) cancontain either a message from the retailer or a message about thefeatures of the co-branded Internet site. Additionally, the co-brandedInternet site can be structured so that the retailer's web site(s) cancome up first in any relevant search performed using the ISP's searchengines.

The ISP and the retailer can create special functionality and memberaids, such as personalization tools, tools that simplify and allow forthe greatest utility of the co-branded Internet site's features andfunctionality. For example, a co-branded CD ROM or other tool whichprovides an interactive “tour” or guide to the site would enhance theutility of many commonly used features such as instant messaging buddylist, parental controls, calendar, E-mail and chat rooms. The co-brandedInternet site can be packaged with co-branded gifts and othermerchandise. Different packages will be created for different segments(e.g., teens, gardeners, baseball fans) to add value to the consumer.

The retailer can have a significant advertising presence throughout theISP's premium site, equivalent to “anchor store” status in a shoppingmall. Membership to the co-branded Internet site can be advertised and“sold” on the retailer's web site(s) and/or the ISP's premium site. Theco-branded Internet site can be prominently promoted throughout theretailer's physical stores, e.g., at check-out, in the electronics area,on “end caps,” on signage, in the retailer's circular and otheradvertising media, on the retailer's web site(s) and so on.

The ISP and the retailer can jointly develop and execute a mediacampaign to promote the co-branded Internet site. Still other featuresthat can be incorporated into the co-branded Internet site include: 1)parental controls preset to an agreed upon level, 2) the ability toaccept the retailer's credit card for payments, including theISP/retailer premium Internet service subscription fees, 3) the abilityfor current co-branded Internet site members to easily migrate to theISP's premium Internet services without loosing customized orpersonalized features of the service, and/or 4) as hours of freesubscription service as are offered by the premium ISP service packageor any other premium co-branded product.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example of a co-branded Internet site“welcome” or home page 18 in accordance with the present invention. Thetool bar 20 includes a retailer button link 22 to a drop down menu 24 oflinks 28 to other retailer-specific sites. In the example shown, theretailer button link 22 includes both the retailer's name and logotrademarks. The illustrated drop down menu 24 includes a sub-menu 28with links to the retailer's shopping site (e.g., Target.com), periodic(e.g., weekly) advertising circular, store locator service and anon-line periodical. Also accessible from the home page 18 is anotherdrop down menu 26 with links to shopping sites and catalogs affiliatedwith the retailer (e.g., MARSHALLFIELDS.COM, WIRELESSTOO.COM,SIGNALS.COM, MERVYNS.COM, etc.).

In the example shown in FIG. 1, these links are located in the drop downmenu under the “Favorites” button link on the tool bar. Prominentlydisplayed and easily available button links to both the ISP's site 30and the retailer's shopping sites 32 are also present on the home page18 (e.g., in the “My Shortcuts” button link collection in theillustrated embodiment). Although not shown, the subscriber's calendar(e.g., “My Calendar”) can be pre-populated to highlight events relatedto the retailer.

The illustrated embodiment of the home page also includes a “just forYou: [retailer's] Favorite Site” statement 34 at a prominent location.This statement can be provided for a limited period of time such as 60days following the first day of a customer's new subscription, andincludes a link to the on-line periodical. The content in the on-lineperiodical can be supported by the ISP.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example of the cover page of aco-branded on-line periodical 40 that can be accessed from links in theco-branded Internet site. As shown, the on-line periodical cover pageeffectively includes an index with links to articles and other servicesof interest to subscribers, such as on-line shopping services. Variousinteractive electronic shopping systems and methods are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,052,710 (Saliba et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,130 (Alloulet al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,141 (Bezos et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,376(Kenney); U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,709 (Xue); U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,483 (Grateet al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,314 (Payne et al.) and U.S. Pat. No.5,637,847 (Watanabe).

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example of a co-branded opt-in pop-uppage 50 that can be presented to the subscriber during the initialsign-up process. As shown, the page provides the subscriber with theopportunity to express their desire to receive notice 52 of specialoffers, promotions and discounts such as the retailer's periodiccircular and credit card. The retailer can become a “premier” merchanton the shopping suggestion pages of the ISP's premium site (e.g., on the“Shop @” pages on the AOL service site). As the premier merchant, theretailer will have its trademarks and other information presented in amanner which is considered to be the best by the ISP (e.g., in positionssometimes referred to as the “Anchor/Gold” positions).

In one embodiment, the retailer is the premier merchant on shoppingsuggestion pages referred to as “destinations.” Examples includeDepartment Stores, Home Design/Décor, Toys, Apparel, Baby/Kids andConsumer Electronics. FIG. 4 is an illustration of shopping destinationsuggestion pages 60 with premier locations 62 that can be offered to theretailer in accordance with the invention.

The retailer can be the premier merchant for the search function offeredon the ISP's premium site relating to shopping suggestion pages. Inconnection with this relationship, the retailer can be provided thehighest level of product integration against key search terms offered byon the ISP's premium site. Alternatively, a limited number of otherretailers could be offered the same level of integration as the retailerwith the co-branded site. The retailer with the co-branded Internet sitecan be provided priority placement in the search results for searchesperformed on the ISP's premium site.

The retailer can be the premier and most prominent merchant on registryproperty offered on the ISP's premium site (e.g., at locations sometimesreferred to as “anchor” level placements). FIG. 5 is an illustration ofexample ISP's premium site registry pages 70 with premier locations 72,74 that can be offered to the retailer with the co-branded site. Theretailer can be prominently featured in merchandise catalogs offered onthe ISP's premium site (e.g., in every catalog produced by themerchant). In connection with this activity, the retailer can sponsorperiodic seasonal or theme catalogs such as Holiday, Harvest/Halloween,Bridal, and Back-to-School/Back-to-College.

Promotions offered by the retailer can also be prominently featured on anewsletter offered on the ISP's premium site. These promotions can be“clickable” to the point of sale. This feature can be offered to only alimited number of the ISP's partners, preferably to other ISP partnersthat are not direct competitors of the retailer.

In connection with the co-branded service site, the retailer can providein its physical stores an “on-line” shop that promotes the ISP'sservices and the co-branded Internet site. Promotions to other on-linegoods and service provide can also be featured in the on-line shop.

All of the patents and patent applications disclosed herein, includingthose set forth in the Background of the Invention, are herebyincorporated by reference. With regard to the foregoing description, itis to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially inmatters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size andarrangement of the components without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. It is intended that the specification and depictedaspects be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit ofthe invention being indicated by the broad meaning of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for a retailer of the type having an Internet shopping website to sell merchandise over the Internet, the method comprising: using a retailer server computer to manage access to the Internet shopping website of the retailer including: providing members access to the Internet shopping website of the retailer via a co-branded Internet site primarily relating to non-retail activities of a first non-retail entity, wherein the members are subscribers of the co-branded Internet site; and providing members with a discount on any purchases made using the Internet shopping website when the members access the Internet shopping website via the co-branded Internet site; wherein an amount of the discount for each of the members is determined based on how long each of the members has subscribed to the co-branded Internet site, and the longer each member has subscribed to the co-branded Internet site, the larger the corresponding discount.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-retail entity is an Internet Service Provider.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the co-branded Internet site includes a graphical user interface of the Internet Service Provider and one or more links to the Internet shopping website of the retailer.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the co-branded Internet site prominently displays brand indicia for each of the Internet Service Provider and the retailer.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount is available to members accessing the Internet shopping website via the co-branded Internet site for a limited period of time following each of the members initial subscription to the co-branded Internet site.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount is available to each of the members accessing the Internet shopping website via the co-branded Internet site as long as each corresponding member continues to be subscribed to the co-branded Internet site.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein an amount of the discount for each of the members is determined based on a quantity of past purchases made by each of the members at the Internet shopping website when the Internet shopping website was accessed via the co-branded Internet site.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount is only provided when one of the members accesses the Internet shopping website via the co-branded Internet site.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the members with early on-line access to advertising notifications as compared with non-members, wherein the advertising notifications provide advance notice of one or more of sales and promotions being offered by the retailer on the Internet shopping website.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing hyperlinks to informational content on the Internet selected to be of interest to members in a retailer demographic group.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the informational content includes informational messages created by the retailer solely for access by members who accessed the Internet shopping website via the co-branded Internet site, and the hyperlinks are provided on the co-branded Internet site.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the informational content includes content borrowed from content otherwise available from one or more of the retailer and the first non-retail entity elsewhere on the Internet.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the information content is presented to correspond with retail items offered for retail sale on the Internet shopping website and is presented on a common web page with the retail items corresponding therewith as part of the Internet shopping website.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising pre-populating online member calendars available from the first non-retail entity with electronic calendar entries for upcoming retailer events.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the retailer events are incentives to access and shop on the Internet shopping website of the retailer through the co-branded Internet site.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing at retailer locations client software for accessing the co-branded Internet site.
 17. A method for a retailer of the type having an Internet shopping website to sell merchandise over an Internet, the method comprising: using a server computer to provide members access to the Internet shopping website of the retailer via a co-branded Internet site primarily relating to non-retail activities of a first non-retail entity, wherein the members are subscribers of the co-branded Internet site; providing members with a discount on any purchases made using the Internet shopping website when the members access the Internet shopping website via the co-branded Internet site; and providing hyperlinks of informational content selected to be of interest to members in a retailer demographic group; wherein an amount of the discount for each of the members is determined based on how long each of the members has subscribed to the co-branded Internet site, and the longer each member has subscribed to the co-branded Internet site, the larger the corresponding discount.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first non-retail entity is an Internet Service Provider, the co-branded Internet site includes a graphical user interface of the Internet Service Provider and one or more links to the Internet shopping website of the retailer, and the co-branded Internet site prominently displays brand indicia for each of the Internet Service Provider and the retailer. 